The technical standup paddle races got off to a blazing start on Tuesday in Cold Hawaii in the North of Denmark. This exciting series of sup races set the stage for the highly anticipated Finals in the 2017 ISA World Sup & Paddleboard championships.
Cold Hawaii greets athletes with for Tech Races
The world’s finest Sup and Paddleboard racers arrived in the town of Vorupor – a.k.a. “Cold Hawaii” – to compete in the first Technical races in order to earn a spot in the Finals this weekend. The final competitions are tentatively scheduled for this Saturday in Denmark.
Local viking, Casper Steinfath sent up a roar and earned his seat in the Finals with his resounding win in the Sprint race, earning him his 1st Gold Medal of the 2017 Championships.
Casper Steinfath earns seat in Finals
“My dream came true on Sunday when I won the Sup Sprints,” says young Dane Casper Steinfath. “Now, I have less pressure on me but I still want to defend my title and win that Technical Gold Medal for Denmark.”
The Finals for the Technical Race won’t be easy as the best-of-the-best will compete in both the Sup and Paddleboard Finals. Such talent, as Australia’s twin stars Jordan Mercer and Lachie Lansdown, New Zealand’s Annabel Anderson, Hawaii’s Connor Baxter, the Hungarian brothers Daniel and Bruno Hasulyo, and France’s Olivia Piana will all be on the start line for their chance to win gold. Olivia Piana will be vying for her first Gold Medal in the Sup Technical Race discipline after having earned the Silver Medal in both 2013 and 2016.
Jordan Mercer overcomes challenges to win Gold
Jordan Mercer, who overcame both family tragedy and a broken board on her arrival, went on to win her Gold Medal at the Women’s Paddleboard Technical Race in Denmark on Sunday.
Jordan’s family suffered the tragic loss of her uncle just days before her departure. Then, upon arrival, she discovered her prone board had been creased in transit. Her Australian team mates helped Jordan by staying up late into the night in order to make the board race-ready.
Despite her challenges, Jordan is full of positive energy for her run at the championship here in Denmark.
““It’s been really special here in Denmark. This is my first time really getting to explore Europe and the cold of Vorupør is a welcome change compared to my hometown on the Sunshine Coast of Australia. The contrast between Copenhagen and Vorupør is special to see. This little town is magical.”
New Zealand making a run for Team Gold
New Zealand is currently at the top of the roster for the Team Gold Medal and will remain in the top spot after Tuesday’s competition.
Cold Hawaii delivers for ISA World competition
The President of the ISA, hosting organization for the championships, Fernando Aguerre, said:
“Cold Hawaii provided the perfect platform for the world’s best Standup Paddle and Paddleboard racers in today’s Technical Race.
We have the world’s best Standup Paddle and Paddleboard racers lined up to go for Gold in what is set to be epic Technical Race Finals to take place this weekend. I am looking forward to witnessing history in action as the event progresses in Cold Hawaii and eventually crowns the first-ever Team World Champion of the event in Europe.”
The schedule for Wednesday’s competition is set to start at 10:30am CEST.
